The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned politicians and their supporters against invoking the name of Jesus Christ in partisan political battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, gave the warning in a statement on Wednesday.
TheFact Daily reports that the warning came following a recent comment by Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, in which she referenced Jesus Christ while making a political point concerning former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and the 2027 elections.
However, Okoh said Christians should exercise restraint in the manner they invoke the name of Jesus during political debates, stressing that the Christian faith should not be reduced to a tool for promoting individual politicians.
“Jesus Christ is not a political candidate, a campaign slogan or a weapon to advance one politician against another,” he said.
The CAN president warned that political loyalty must not become so intense that supporters begin to elevate politicians to a status that undermines the reverence due to Christ.
According to him, Nigerians have the right to support or criticise political candidates, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu, but such support should be based on issues rather than religious sentiments.
“We are free to support Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu or any other candidate. We are equally free to criticise them,” Okoh stated.
“But our political loyalty must never become so intense that we begin to speak of politicians in terms that diminish the reverence due to Christ.”
He urged Nigerians to focus political discussions on competence, character, policies, performance and the future of the country rather than dragging religious figures into partisan disagreements.
“Let us argue about competence, character, policies, performance and the future of Nigeria. Let us disagree passionately if necessary but let us leave Jesus Christ out of our partisan quarrels,” he said.
Okoh further declared that no politician should be regarded as a messiah, warning against attaching the salvation of Nigerians to political parties or electoral victories.
“No politician is the Messiah. No political party represents the salvation of the human spirit that Christ epitomises. And no electoral victory is worth compromising the honour due to His name,” he said.
The CAN president called on politicians, their supporters and Nigerians generally to exercise responsibility and restraint as the country approaches another electoral season.
He said political conversations should be conducted with respect for the values and beliefs Nigerians hold sacred.
“Let us conduct our political conversations with responsibility, restraint and respect for what we hold sacred,” Okoh added.
